Jan 14, 2016 3 min read

CHARLEROI – Charleroi Borough Council voted 4-3 Thursday night to eliminate the position of borough manager along with its part-time code enforcement officer.

Former borough manager Donn Henderson’s salary was $33,000 with no health or retirement benefits.

“Council’s decision to release me without cause or viable financial reason is the result of a personal vendetta by (Councilman) Mr. (Larry) Celaschi to harm myself for not agreeing with his and the former Mayor (John) Mollenauer’s positions,” Henderson said. “His continued use of his position to fight his political and personal enemies borders on violations of the ethics code of public officials in Pa.”

Celaschi said, “For decades our borough did more with less.”

He proposed to abolish the positions of part-time code enforcement officer, full-time code enforcement officer and borough manager. Councilman Paul Pivovarnik said councilmembers looked at cuts in the budget and there was no justification to eliminate those positions.

Councilman Jerry Jericho said instead of eliminating these positions council should voluntarily return their stipends to the borough to be placed into the budget.

Henderson said the borough should consider the work involved in his position and his contract.

“The use of the budget concerns is in no way the reason for my dismissal,” Henderson said. “It is an excuse for (Celaschi) and his handpicked ‘yes men’ to fulfill his desire to punish me for interfering with his personal ‘seek and destroy’ mission against his enemies. His history in our community is well documented in the magistrate dockets and state insurance commission findings. It is sad he has dragged the integrity of three others into his manure-filled pasture.”

Council voted 4-3, to abolish the part-time code enforcement officer. Jericho, Debbie Buck and Paul Pivovarnik voted no on the motion. The motion to abolish the full-time code enforcement officer was never made. Council voted 4-3 to abolish the borough manager position, with Jericho, Buck and Pivovarnik voting no.

Henderson said he secured $500,000 for borough projects and another $7 million pending in applications. Some of the projects in progress include California University students’ work on an application for code enforcement, a three day festival in July, submission for the first step toward a $500,000 business grant sponsored by the Shark Tank and a project with National Geographic and an investor to open a factory in the Mon Valley.

Those projects, along with several others, would be up in the air Henderson said, not to mention the additional work load made through the loss of his position.

“We are at the minimal staff now.” he said.

Celaschi said with the elimination of the two positions the borough can now move forward. Henderson said he will be seeking legal advice on the loss of his position.